WESTFIELD – The Flood Control Commission has approved the proposed purchase of a weather station that will provide data in real time to city departments and residents.
Commission Chairman Albert G. Giguere Jr., presented details of the weather station project to the board members Thursday night and the coordination underway with the city’s Technology Department where the station will be installed.
“Eventually we’re going to purchase a weather station, mainly for the water gauge,” Giguere said. “Our goal is to have it up and running before the snow flies. It’s just a matter of getting all of the pieces into place.”
The station will be linked to the city website for public and municipal department access. Giguere said the real time data will enhance the ability of city agencies, including the Public Works, Police, Fire, Emergency Management and Water Resource departments.
“This town is very weather sensitive because of all the rivers,” Giguere said.
The station will also be linked to the Weather Underground Network, a free weather cooperative, giving worldwide access to local weather data.
Giguere said that there are several private weather station residents have installed on their own property, but there is not currently a governmental weather station available to city departments.
Giguere said that during heavy rainfall the system will record the total event, a planning tool for emergency response, enabling departments to know when actions should be taken.
“The Public Works guys can watch the data and know that at a certain time they should send crews to a flood-prone street to block traffic,” Giguere said. “This station will be live with the information going onto the city’s website.”
“One of the beautiful things about this station is that we’ll be able to see in real-time how much rain we’re getting and to respond appropriately,” Giguere said. “This is a system we can count on when we get a flash flood warning.
The system, which will cost $250, can be expanded to add more capabilities.
“You can add other equipment to it.. a weather camera, weather alerts,” Giguere said. “We’re getting the most basic station system with a rain gauge.”
